U.S. Lawmakers Challenge WADA Over Alleged Doping Cover-Up

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has threatened to cut funding for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), accusing it of mishandling allegations of doping by Chinese swimmers. They introduced a bill to give the White House authority to reduce or revoke U.S. funding. The incident could impact future U.S. Olympic bids.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has raised the stakes in the ongoing anti-doping scandal by threatening to cut funding for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The lawmakers have introduced a bill that would grant the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) permanent authority to reduce or revoke U.S. funding for WADA.

The controversy centers around WADA's alleged failure to disclose that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug trimetazidine (TMZ) before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. This revelation has led to a row between global and American anti-doping agencies and cast a shadow over the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen are key sponsors of the bill, aiming to ensure fair representation on WADA's governing bodies. They argue that WADA tried to silence the U.S. by jeopardizing its bids to host future Olympic Games. WADA, however, maintains that it had no evidence to challenge China's findings on the matter.

(With inputs from agencies.)